Geylang start with 1-0 victory

AFTER three seasons of under-achievement, Geylang United might just be on the brink of a new dawn.

Last season's second-last side got off to a winning start at the Jurong West Stadium yesterday.

They beat Gombak United 1-0 in front of 2,669 fans.

Under coach Lim Tong Hai, who is beginning his first full season in charge, the Eagles look a different proposition from the side that conceded 62 goals last season.

They were tight and well-organised at the back. Up front, they took their chances well despite missing the injured Briton Kim Grant and Dutchman Abdelaziz Dnibi.

Former national defender Lim said: 'The players worked hard and rose to the occasion. We coped with the pressure and worked well as a team.

'It was a deserved win and it's always nice to keep a clean sheet.'

Their backline of national skipper Aide Iskandar (who moved from Tampines Rovers), Razaleigh Khalik, Noh Rahman and Jonathan Xu repelled everything Gombak could muster.

In fact, the hosts, who finished eighth last season, failed to register a single shot on target the entire game.

All Gombak had to show in the first half was a Ruhaizad Ismail shot which flashed just wide.

And it was only in stoppage time that Gombak's Thai midfielder Theerawesin Seehawong managed his side's first shot on target, which Geylang goalkeeper Fajar Sarib saved easily.

Striker Agu Casmir, who received the go-ahead to play only on Wednesday after missing the registration deadline, also failed to make any headway against the Geylang defence.

The Eagles also took some time to warm up at the attacking end.

But, when they did, they looked the more potent side.

Geylang took the lead on 35 minutes through midfielder Syed Fadhil with a 30-metre thunderbolt past Gombak goalkeeper Adi Salleh into the top- right corner.

Despite two floodlight failures which stopped the game for some 12 minutes, Geylang's raucous bunch of about 50 supporters made the most noise.

If this first match is anything to go by, they should have more reason to cheer this year.

Meanwhile, Singapore's under-21 side crashed out of the Asean Youth Championship in Brunei yesterday.

They lost 0-2 to Malaysia in their final group game.